Pessary construction



Sept. 12, 1933. w FlNDLEY 1,926,518

PESSARY CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Nov. 16, 1928 ATTORNEY,

1 VENTO 1511 [Z d &yf

Patented Sept. 12, 1933 um smrs I 1,926,518 PESSARY CONSTRUCTION William M. Findley, New York, N. YL, assignor to I Daue Surgical Appliance Corp, a corporation of New Jersey Roselle, N. .L,

Application November 16, 1928, Serial No. 319,813

Renewed July 25, 1932 3 Claims. (01, 128- 127;

The object of this invention is to provide an improveddevice knownin the medical profession asapessary. ..1 I 7 These devices are used by gynecologists and obstetricians in the vagina to prevent orcorrect a downward or backward displacement of the uterus and, in some cases, tosupport the anterior and posterior walls of the vagina. 1 r

The device must be of the proper shape and size 10 to fit the individual case andit is essential that it be rigid in a longitudinal directionyas the lower end rests upon the rarni of the pubic bone and the muscles of the pelvic floor and the upper end holds the uterus in position by pressure against the posteriorfornix of, the upper end of the vagina.

It is also important that the device be smooth to obviate irritation or injury to the mucous mem-.

branes and it must be light in weight to avoid excessive downward pressure, which is not only un- I comfortable but tends to cause displacementof the device. The material used in its construction must allow of shaping to fit the individual case, it

must have sufficient strength orrigidity to withstand the strain of prolonged pressure without sagging or breaking and it must be non-corrosive because of its constant exposure to secretions and antiseptics used in douching.

The objectof the present invention is the provision of a practical device having the above noted requirements and which, by reason of its novel construction, may bereadily inserted through the introitus or entrance to the vagina without causing pain orinjury and which, when inserted, will have the required size, shape and rigidity to per- 5 form its required function, and which may be readily removed, as is required at least once a month.

In designing a device to meet the requirements and objectsof a device of the class described, I have provided a pair of rigid side members joined by resilient portions normally holding the side members in extended position to provide a rigid support in a longitudinal direction while permitting the side members to be manipulated by the operator and folded together in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device and adapted to restore the side members to their normal positions when released. 7

One form of such device, with several modifications of the means for securing the resilient members to the rigid side members, is shown in the accompanying drawing asillustrative of the in vention and the various features of the invention heretofore set out generally, as well as other features .of the same, will be apparent from the description of the-jdevice as illustrated.

In the drawing, like parts in theseveral views have been given the same reference -numeral:-

Fig. l is'a perspective view of a device illustrating the invention. The normal or operative position is shown in full lines while' its folded position, ready for insertion, through the "introitus, or removal therethrough, is shown in dotted I lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional viewoofa part of the device as -shown in Fig. 1'. Fig.3 is a;

view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modification.

Fig, 4 shows a modification of the securingmeans for attaching the side members and the resilientmembers together and Fig. 5 shows another modification of the same. 1

The rigid side members are shown-atl and 2 in Fig. 1 and in dotted position,'folded together,

at l'and'2, respectively. .These members may be of hard rubber moulded to meet the required 'shape, size," etc. The inner ends 'of these side members are bent inwardly toward each other.

A resilient member 3, which may be round,:flat

for other shapewhich may be desired and suitable, is secured at its ends to the inwardly extending ends of the side members 1 and2', respec tively, a similarresilient member being secured to the opposed opposite ends of the side members. This'resilient member may be secured by mouldingthe ends thereof in the opposed ends of the 5 l side members, in the manner'indicated in Figs. 2

and 3, or a ferrule, such as shownat '8 in Fig. l or 12 inFigl 5,1nay serve as the means of attachment between the ends of the resilient member 7 r of 'Fig. 4 or13 of Fig.5 and the opposed ends of the side members 1 and 2. As it is important, as previously pointed out, in devices of this'class that the outer surfaces be smooth and continuous and free from sharp edges, a yielding covering 4, as shown in Figs. 1f-

and 2, is positioned between the opposed ends of the side members 1 and 2 and enclosing the exposed or intermediate portion of the resilient member 3. This covering is also resilient and I may be of soft rubber or other suitable material to meet the requirements. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, this covering is slightly compressed between the ends of the side members so that when the same are folded the same will expand and prevent any opening of the partsat the juncture of the same but will preserve the smooth and continuous outer surface of the device.

In the form shown in Fig. 3, this covering 5 is formed to enclose the ends of the side members.

as indicated at 6, ,aswell as'the resilient member both the ferrule 8 and the ends of the side members 1 and 2, as indicated at 10, and in Fig. 5, the covering 14 encloses the ferrule 12, mounted on the reduced portion '11 of the side members 1 and 2 and the ends thereof, as indicated at 15 and also the resilient member 13.

These different forms of covering may all be soft rubber.

When the device is to be inserted through the introitus or entrance to the vagina, the side members 1 and 2 are manipulated and folded together into approximately the position indicated in dotted lines, 1' and 22in Fig, 1, and are held in this position by the doctor while being inserted and positioned, when the same are re leased and the side members are restored to'their normal relative positions, indicated by full lines in Fig. 1, by reason of the action of the resilient members at eachend thereof. The device is then positioned by the-doctor with its lower end supported on the rami of the pubic bone and muscles of the pelvic'floor and itsuppe'r end holding the uterus in position by the upward pressure against the posterior fornix. of the upper end of the vagina. On account of the construction de scribed, the device furnishes the necessary support on account of its rigidity in a longitudinal direction, from its lower, to its upper end, while permitting the side members tozbe manipulated or folded together in a transverse direction, as

, shown and described, and; on account of the relatively small cross-sectional dimensions r when folded, it may be readily inserted and positioned without pain or injury being inflicted upon the patient and, when inserted and positioned with the side members restored automatically to their normal'positions, the devicehas the necessary extent or transverse dimensions to perform its intended functions. Y i

The removal of the device is accomplished by reversingthe operation just described. That is,

the doctor closes the side members together and,

holding the same inclosedposition; can readily remove the device through the introitus without injury tojthe patient or causing pain.; It will be apparent that these results could not i be accomplishedif-the device were of the required dimensionsto performits functions and entirely of rigidconstruction. V

What I claim as new and desire to secure by 1 Letters Patent is z lrA device of the class described, comprising.

'7. In Fig. 4, the covering 9 is formed to enclose tions normally holding said side members in extended position to provide a rigid support in a longitudinal direction while permitting said side members to be manipulated and folded together in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device and adapted to restore the said members to their normal positions when released.

2. A device of the class described, comprising rigid side members joined by resilient portions, and a resilient yielding covering compressed between the opposed ends of said rigid side mem-' bers and enclosing each of said resilient portions providing a smooth and continuous outer surface with the ends of said side members, said side members and resilient portions being of uniform cross-section and size throughout the entire length of the device, said side members being normally held by said resilient portions in extended position to provide a rigid support in a longitudinal direction while permittingsaid side members to be manipulated and folded together "in a'direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device and adapted to restore the said members to their normal relativepositions when released."

3. Adevice of the class described, comprising. a pairof rigid side members, resilient members extendinginto the ends of saicl'side members joining the same together'in spaced relation to each other, a covering of resilient yielding'material enclosing each of said resilient members and,

slightly compressed between the opposed and joined ends of said side members and presenting a smooth and continuous outer surface therewith, said resilient members normally holding said side members in extended position to provide a rigid support in a longitudinal direction while permitting the side rnembers to be manipulated and folded together in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the device and adapted to restore the said members to'their normal relative positions when released.

WILLIAM M. FlN-DLEY." 

